Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1090 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— - —<—- ie Gara for a great many years are not easily changed. He went back to the subject in hand. ‘‘T take it, then, that this gentleman is a friend of yours.” ‘*What! Andrew Allan! To be sure,sir.. I have tried to do some little good in my life, but never did I do anything that gave me more sat- isfaction than the bringing together of these two who have beenso long separated—Mr. Allan and Laura Murray. Allow me to introduce to you my protegée, whom I had not seen for years un- tilshe came to me last night.” Sally Mark half raised from her seat, drooped forward in a graceful courtesy, and with down- cast face murmured a word or two of answer to the introduction. The daughter of ‘* Captain” Mark could hold her own anywhere. It is true that she was there as a fraud upon Mrs. Bradford; that for the last few hours she had decided that she must go through the form of a marriage ceremony with the fictitious Al- jan; and imagined that she had a letter from an- other lover in her bosom; but she sat there as modest as a daisy and as brave as a lion. Meantime an idea had struck Jubilee Joe, and he had been scribbling a line or two on a bit o paper, held in the inside of his hat. Just as bh ad smuggled the stub of pencil away, Mr. Bond’s eyes rested squarely on him. ‘* Hello!” heexclaimed, *‘ you’re here, are you? I thought you were to call around at my office; T’ve a mind to turn you over to the police, as a swindler!” ‘* Sign ‘*T’ve bin there,” put in Joe, in haste. up sed ‘Gone to the country, be back in a week. Knowed it was a bouncer tho’, an’ meant ter kim back ag’in this A.M, I’d’a’ bin there afore this, ef Josey hadn’t a-went back on me, I didn’t know where yer house were, an’ it wa’n’t no use ter hang’round there when ther ranch were so empty it couldn’t hear ther jigger bang. I seen him, though, an’ it’s hunky-dunk all ther way from Squedunk. Here’s yer answer, an’ he sez ef that ain’t plain ernuff, when he sees yer royal nibs he’ll tell yer some more.” Joe limped boldly forward and handed to Mr. Bond the piece of paper on which he had been scribbling. ‘* Oh, ali right! Then you didn’t forget that you had a quarter, and that I owned your time until you got back? My son—” “Oh, stow yer whids, dad! Don’t be lettin’ ther secrets outen ther fambly! Still, ef I must tack Bond onter ther end ov Billy Butcher, don’t ye think it’s worth another quarter anyhow?” ‘* Don’t be impudent, Billy, or the jobs will stop coming in. Here’s your quarter; but the next time I want to wait twenty-four hours for an address, I’ll go myself.” ‘* All right, me noble guy. I’m through here, an’ jest bin a-waitin’ on you.’ Pll dub ther ‘jig an’ track ther dancers. When yer want me yer know where to find me, an’ every time yer put yer forks on me, yer touch ther clean wedge.” As well as his assumed lameness would per- mit, he swaggered off the stage. ‘“A strange boy,” remarked the Vice-Presi- dent, as the door closed, ‘‘ but in spite of his strange ways and slang, I find him shrewd and reliable; and, I hope, reasonably honest.” ‘‘ Just so, Mr. Bond,” responded Andrew A\I- lan, who had been keeping an eye on the scrap of paper that Joe had hand»d to the Vice- President, His suspicions had been aroused, and he felt as though he would give something nice to see what was written on it. The Vice-President bad held it a moment in his fingers, and then thrust it carelessly in his vest-pocket without looking at it. When they parted, the Vice-President did not notice that while Mr. Allan’s right hand held his, his left hand grazed his vest, aor did*he know that the corner of paper that had been visible there no longer erotinded from his pocket. The paper was totally forgotten. He had thought it only a bit of stage property, to carry out the drama, and would have been surprised could he have seen Tom Smith, around the next corner, gloating over his prize. It read: ‘‘Ask Mrs. Bradford for Andrew Allan’s birth- day.” While he was conning this significant note, Sally Mark was holding in her hands a longer one that seemed to cause her some trouble, yet furnish some amusement. ‘‘'The worthless whelp,” she was saying to her- self. ‘‘It?s adetter of Tom’s after all: and he’s gone on'‘another girl. What did that young snoozer mean by giving it tome? There’s some double work about this, and I must have a talk with pa. I’vefound outmore here in a few hours than they did in as many weeks, Why didn’t Tom stay, though? Confound him! Itwon’t do for him to die now until he can leave me his ee Gs widow. And, as J dropped to that lay, I think Vu keep the biggest share of the proceeds my- self. Still, if [ don’t give Tom fis divy, he might kick; and as they’ll havea pull on me, (ll have a hard enough time to bluff the rest. Oh, dear.’the way of the wicked is rough.” She was staring out of the window. Now she saw aman approaching the house, who keenly eyed the front, and as he passed made a slight signa with his hand. It was Gibbs, looking as little like himself as possible. His signal indi- cated that he had something important to com- municate. ‘*Confound the fool! How does he expect that I can get out to see him? And if I could it would be dangerous to be seen in his company, He’d sell his own mother for a cent.” She spoke pettishly, yet she knew very well that Gibbs was not the man to run any unne- cessary risks; and as it happened that the visit of Mr. Bond had rather upset Mrs. Bradford, so that she left her visitor aiode for a little while, Sally saw her chance and sallied out, She turned down the next side street, and presently came face to face with Gibbs, who was slowly sauntering back. ‘*See here, young man,” she said, in a low tone, ‘‘ what are you skylarking ’round here for? If you want to make a clean bu’st-up just do it some more. If you want to get word to me you must talk to pa, or Tom.” ‘Tf I could have found Tom, you bet I wouldwt have come poking my nose into these regions. It was the ‘Captain’ that sent me. He wanted you and Tom to know that the girl has gone to old Grim.” ‘+ Not dead ?” exclaimed Sally. ‘* Very dead, if you want to have it that way. Cut all up intolittle pieces and packed in a box.” He grinned at the way cool Miss Sally was up- set, and then hastily added: ‘‘Mam made a mess of it last night, and she slipped the slum. I twigged her as she went through, and hiked it after her, lively. There didn’t happen to be a soul around at first, and she was too scared to yell. When she reached Spruce street she tried to mount a car, fell under the wheels, and that was the last of her. Of course we had nothing to’ say, but there wasn’t ‘No! Pll be durned an’ enough left of her face to swear by.” CHAPTER XIII. (BY WILLIAM R, EYSTER.) A REAL DECOY, Ir Ezra Bond did not notice the abstraction of the paper from his vest-pocket, some one else did. keen as Tom Smith thought himself, he had failed to catch sight of Master Joe, who was watching the leave-taking with thorough disgust, ‘**Blame my eyes ef that man’s any more fit ter do biz than a basswood dog with a poplar tail! He ter come snookin’ round, messin’ every- thin’ up! Why, dog bite him! ain’t J on ther trail? P’vea mind ter—yes, it dlmost makes a feller feel like wringin’ in on t’other side! An’ he hedn’t sense enough ter freeze onter ther big- gest p’int in ther game—leavin’ outen ’count ther feller ’'ve got cooped down at Johnny FKlynn’s. Betcher sweet life he’s ther ’rigernal Jacobs, An’ ef them marks mean anything, I'll pay up all Fillymaclink ag’in’ a match-box that ve weren’t twenty-six years, three months, an’ ten days old, September fifth, eighteen seventy- six, ’Pears terme that makes a diff’runce ov ‘bout six months—an’— Blast Mr. V. P.! he’s ther feller ter work out ther figgers! It’s too deep fur me; but I’m bettin’ that wouldn't read ‘11—2—50.” Hol’ on! Clap a hot poultice on quick! An idee hits me—hard! That or’nary Jubilee Joe, the Chain-Lightning Detective, —— eee 13 --e—--- _-_o- ——— 1850. Wait. I'll get a poncil and write it down for you. You may forget it.” ‘“*T ain’t furgittin’ much, but here’s yer pencil. If it ain't writ, he may think Vm a-workin’ roots. That's it. Thank’e. Thatsettlesit. Yer a good woman, an’ we make a team. » Day-day! Who sez Jubilee Joe can’t climb a chimbley !” He was off before the old lady could return him an answer; and he went dancing down the street in utter forgetfulnessof his assumed lame- ness, Asa general thing, Joo kept up with the news of the day; a percentage of his first shine going, if necessary, toward the purchase of a morning paper, This morning he had been too busy even to listen to the chant of the newsboys, until now he turned up an ear. “ Hyar’s yer mornin’ papers! All erbout ther gal w’ot got killed on Spruce!” Jubilee Joe had girl on thebrain just then, A cold chill dropped off his brain, ran down the nape of his neck, and fell into his boots. | “ Here, Jakey! What's that about a gal?” ‘‘ Tried to get on er street-car, an’ face mashed to a Jelly. Fork over yernickel an’ git yer right change back!” Joe caught a glimpse of the head-lines, and then invested. e had, somehow, a presenti- ment, and his hand shook a little as he read how a girl came rushing wildly into Spruce street, and how there was a scream and a jolt. When the body was picked up, life was nearly extinct: the face presented a horrible. spectacle; and a wound on the temple would alone have been sufficient to cause ater instant death. Noth- ing could be learned of her except that she had been seen flying along the cross street, and that from some direction a rumor had floated around that her name was Sally, . Joe scratched his head, brushed his eyes with his coat-sleeve, and then stuffed the paper into his pocket for future reference. ‘**T might a-knowed it! Passed in her checks, an’ went up ther flume while I were a-sashayin’ round town with young 4-11-44, Ther fat’s all in ther fire now, an’ that nin ov a Ezry Bond | kin jest take my keards ay OD out ther hand. i j | | | fiste’s goin’ somewheres ter digest, an’ Pl) skin | it back to Mrs. Bradford's an’ ax her myself. I hate ter lose sight on him; but it’s too good a dot ter miss. Here goes.” He hit his chance admirably well, for, just as he came in sight of the house again, Sally Mark was sailing off to interview Gibbs, leaving the coast clear. To his ring, Mrs. Bradford herself answered, As he was in a hurry, he wasted no time with superfluous words. ‘* Mister Bond sent me back, ma’m. It’s ther rag a he were goin’ ter ax yer hisself, when ther twinklum in yer eyes knocked him all abroad, knows it sure frum some one else. Mister Allan born?’ That Joe was the messenger of the Vice-Presi- dent of the insurance company would not seem so improbable, after what she had lately heard. In fact, she had not the least suspicion. {* His birthday? Yes. Letmesee, I know it well cuaniia- was looking at the figures only the other day. It was the second of November, He can’t fill. up ther papers till he | When were | ] | ovble durned ef he kin!” he added, with sudden vehemence, ‘‘Laura Murray’s dead: Andrew Allan is blind cTaZy 5 uncle Ezry’sa blasted fool; an’ ther gang that’s workin’ roots don’t need ter git a file ter make the’r eye-teeth sharp. But Joe Bind- ley’s still around, fur blood an’ ha’r. Let ’em twirl their jenny fur all that’s in ther bank; but afore it stops Jubilee Joe’ll be there fur ven- geance! Now fur ther genooine Allan. He's all ther capital ’ve got left, an’ I dunno ef he’s enuff ter start.a bank er not.” . He had no particular plan of operations just now, but he intended in some AY to checkmate the rascals, and, if possible, to bring them to justice. He—Joe—entered Flynn’s very quietly, and made his way to the room he had secured for the stranger. So afraid was he of wakening his charge that he touched the door very lightly, and only opened it a little bit. Allan was sleeping sweetly indeed; but by his bedside, scrutinizing him with a keen gaze, stood the man of all men whom Joe least desired to see there—Tom Smith, the false Andrew Allan. One bared arm of the sleeper had been flung out from under the cover, and staring him in the face Smith saw the mark—‘S Andrew Allan— 11-2-50.” Smith mastered it and the situation of affairs at about the samw time. He turned toward the door, and Joe had just time to shrink away and dart a few steps up the garret stairs, when he came out and went directly to his own room, Presently Joe came sidling in, just in time to see Allan wake up, with eyes and brain reason- ably well cleared by his long sleep. At first he had some difficulty in identifying the boy; but he had a glimmering remembrance of what happened the previous evening, and re- cognized him at length. Oh, you’ve got a bully good furgetter! How ‘are yer on ther recomember? Maybe yer kin mind gittin’ yer life tnsured,” The young man looked up, smiling strangely enough. ‘‘ Why, yes, now that you speak of it, I do.” ‘* Who for, and in what sum?’ continued the boy, more than ever interested and excited. ‘Twenty thousand dollars, for the benefit of a young lady named Miss Laura Murray; but I can’t heip. but remember that Iam indebted to you for taking good care of me,” ‘‘Dry up on that!” shouted Joe. “Pd ’a’ done ez much fur a brindle purp with a glass eye. Now, jest say it war done yesterday comicbooks